science; and so brings forward the work of God in the soul, that all who attend on it 'come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' And happy the ministers who see the people of their charge thus endeavouring to avail themselves, to the utmost, of the advantages of an instructive and affectionate ministry; to whom is given this delightful joy, only less than that which arises from the consciousness of the love of God to their own souls, the joy of seeing their children walking before God in TRUTH, and LOVE, and HOLINESS. Happy even on earth is the intercourse of such ministers and people. O how supremely happy shall be their fellowship in heaven!

E. T.

WESLEY'S WORKS.

(Concluded from p. 71.)

The Works of the Rev. JOHN WESLEY, A. M., sometime fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. First American Complete and Standard Edition, from the latest London Edition, with the last corrections of the Author: comprehending also numerous translations, notes, and an original preface, &c. By JOHN EMORY. Seven volumes octavo, pp. 5000.

THE REV. Henry Moore, author of the Life of John and Charles Wesley, when on the Cork circuit in Ireland, in the year 1784, says,' In the book-room, kept by that holy man, Mr. James Ward, I found what was indeed a treasure to me-Mr. Wesley's Works, in thirty-two volumes. These I read, or rather devoured, one by one, and chiefly on horseback. Every sentence of them seemed spirit and life to my soul; and this year's study was more to me than (I am persuaded) many years would be under the ablest masters, who had not so abundantly tasted of the powers of the world to come, as this man of God had.”

The edition of Mr. Wesley's Works from which Mr. Moore derived so much pleasure and profit, was that printed by Pine, of Bristol, the first ever published, and which was in many respects extremely defective and erroneous. Yet even that edition Mr. Moore regarded as so great a treasure, that he not merely read, but rather devoured' it; and so industriously redeemed his time for the purpose, that most of this reading was done on horseback.' Henee his special profiting by that year's study, in the Works of such a

master.

It is an opinion pretty generally prevalent among us, we believe, that the early race of Methodist preachers possessed in a preeminent degree the wisdom to win souls, and to spread the Gospel in its simplicity and power, and its depth and height, as well as in its length and breadth. We have often pondered on the causes of this, and have no doubt that, in addition to their exemplary piety,

and faith, and zeal, with God's blessing, their very peculiar success in the above respects was promoted in a high degree by their eager, and ardent, and prayerful study, first and principally of the Bible, and next after it of the standard works of Methodism-those of Wesley and Fletcher in particular. Hence they were always armed at all points, in their own proper work, (for they meddled with nothing else,) and were thoroughly furnished unto every good work. It is true, indeed, that these writings were accumulated gradually; and in the early periods of our history in America, those of Mr. Wesley in particular were but scantily possessed among us. Yet even the few volumes with which we were first favored, and to which others were added from time to time, with the Works of Fletcher, and the Bible, the Discipline, and the Hymnbook, constituted a Library which the preachers, and a very large portion of the members, made their own,-not merely by purchase and possession, and thereafter to be laid up and forgotten, but by a familiar acquaintance with their contents. It was rare, we apprehend, that a Methodist family could be entered without being found in possession of more or less of these works. Their well-thumbed pages, too, gave ample demonstration that they were not kept either merely for show, or as useless lumber. Their doctrines, and arguments, and discussions, as expositions and defences of Bible truth, constituted the familiar topics of conversation whenever the preachers, in their rounds, visited such families; and hence the mutual edification and delight with which these fireside pastoral visits were so highly zested. The countenances of our old men, and of our mothers too, are still kindled up with a glow of pleasure at the recollection or the mention of them, as the by-gone days' of the introduction and infancy of Methodism. They seem, indeed, almost to enjoy over again, in relating them, those happy seasons,' those delicious hours,' spent in company and in conversation with the venerable dead.

It is only within a few years past that any edition purporting to contain Wesley's Works generally, (and that but a small one,) was ever published in America; and a complete and standard edition never till now. Such an edition has been long and greatly wanted; and now that we have the pleasure to be able to furnish it, we trust that very many thousands in our Israel, and in this great and growing community generally, will find it what Mr. Moore did even the very imperfect edition by Pine,--a treasure indeed.

We shall subjoin some additional short extracts from the Journal, of a miscellaneous, and chiefly of an entertaining character; placing the subject of each extract at its commencement, in italics, as in our former article.

Visiting from house to house. Friday, 29. [Dec. 1758.] I found the society had decreased since L- C went away; and yet they had had full as good preachers. But that is not sufficient. By repeated experiments we learn, that though a man preach like an angel,

he will neither collect, nor preserve a society which is collected, without visiting them from house to house.' (Vol. iv, p. 14.)

An ancient building, of Roman bricks.— To-day I walked all over the famous castle, perhaps the most ancient building in England. A considerable part of it is, without question, fourteen or fifteen hundred years old. It was mostly built with Roman bricks, each of which is about two inches thick, seven broad, and thirteen or fourteen long. Seat of ancient kings, British and Roman, once dreaded far and near! But what are they now? Is not a living dog better than a dead lion?' And what is it wherein they prided themselves, as do the present great ones of the earth?

A little pomp, a little sway,

A sunbeam in a winter's day,

Is all the great and mighty have

Between the cradle and the grave !'—(Ib.)

Two rest-days.-Care for the poor, &c.- Saturday, 30. I returned to London, and received a pressing letter from Bristol; in consequence of which, I took horse on Monday morning, January 1, 1759, and came thither the next evening. After resting two days (only preaching morning and evening) I examined severally the members of the society. This was one great end of my coming down. Another was, to provide for the poor. Accordingly, on Sunday, 7, I preached a sermon for them, to which God was pleased to give his blessing; so that the collection was a great deal more than double of what it used to be.' (Ib.) Spectators at the Lord's Supper, &c.- Sunday, April 1. [1759.] I met them all at six, requiring every one to show his ticket when he came in a thing they had never heard of before. I likewise insisted on another strange regulation:-that the men and women should sit apart. A third was made the same day. It had been a custom ever since the Tabernacle was built, to have the galleries full of spectators. while the Lord's Supper was administered. This I judged highly improper; and therefore ordered none to be admitted but those who desired to communicate. And I found far less difficulty than I expected in bringing them to submit to this also.' (Ib. p. 17.)

:

A faithful servant, an evangelical clergyman,—and the happy conversion of an infidel General. It was on this day [April 13, 1759,] that, after the battle of Bergen, in Germany, "among the many wounded who were brought into Frankfort-on-the-Maine, there was the Right Honorable George Charles Dykern, Baron, Lieutenant-General of the Saxon troops, in the service of the king of France. He was born of an ancient and noble family in Silesia, on April 10, 1710, so that it was just on his birth-day he received his wound. He was of equal abilities as a minister in the closet, and a general in the field. In his younger years he had gone through a regular course of study in the university, and made great proficiency in philosophy, especially in mathematics. Afterward he studied polemic divinity, till he reasoned himself into an infidel. During his illness he showed not the least desire of pious company or serious discourse, till the surgeon let his valet de chambre know that he could not live long. The man then asked his master whether he did not choose to be visited by a clergyman. He answered with warmth, “I shall not trouble those gentlemen: I know well myself

what to believe and do." His man, not discouraged, continued thus, "My lord, have you ever found me wanting in my duty all the time I have been in your service?" He answered, "No." "Then," replied he, "I will not be wanting now. The surgeons count you past hopes of but recovery; every one is afraid to tell you so. You stand upon the brink of eternity. Pray, sir, order a clergyman to be called." He paused a little, but soon gave his hand to his servant, thanked him for his honesty, and ordered him to send for me. (Dr. Fresenius, Senior of the Clergy at Frankfort.) When I came, the man told me plainly, the general was a professed infidel. I went in, and, after a short compliment, said, “I am told, my lord, your life is near an end; therefore I presume, without any ceremony, to ask you one plain question: Is the state of your soul such that you can entertain a solid hope of salvation?" He answered, "Yes." "On what do you ground this hope?" He replied, "I never committed any wilful sin. I have been liable to frailties; but I trust in God's mercy, and the merits of his Son, that he will have mercy upon me." These words he uttered very slowly, especially" the merits of his Son." I made the following reply: "I am apt to believe you are not tainted with the grossest vices; but I fear you a little too presumptuously boast of never having committed wilful sin. If you would be saved, you must acknowledge your being utterly corrupted by sin, and consequently deserving the curse of God and eternal damnation. As for your hoping for God's mercy, through the merits of his Son, I beg leave to ask, Do you believe God has a Son; that his Son assumed our nature, in order to be our Saviour; that, in the execution of his office, he was humbled unto death, even the death upon the cross; and that hereby he has given an ample satisfaction for us, and recovered our title to heaven?" He answered, “I cannot now avoid a more minute description of the true state of my soul. Let me tell you, doctor, I have some knowledge of philosophy, by which I have chosen for myself a way of salvation. I have always endeavoured to live a sober life to the uttermost of my power, not doubting but the Being of all beings would then graciously accept me. In this way I stood in no need of Christ, and therefore did not believe on him. But if I take the Scriptures to be a divine revelation, this way of mine, I perceive, is not the right one. I must believe in Christ, and through him come to God." I replied, “You say, if you take the Scriptures to be a divine revelation!" He fetched a deep sigh, and said, "O God, thou wilt make me say, Because I take the Scriptures to be thy word." I said, "There are grounds and reasons enough to demonstrate the divine origin of Christianity, as I could show from its most essential principles, were not the period of your life so short; but we need not now that diffusive method, faith being the gift of God. A poor sinner, tottering on the brink of eternity, has not time to inquire about grounds and reasons. Rather betake yourself to earnest prayer for faith, which, if you do, I doubt not but God will give it you." I had no sooner spoken these words, but pulling off his cap, and lifting up his eyes and hands, he cried out, "O Almighty God, I am a poor cursed sinner, worthy of damnation ; but, Lord Jesus, eternal Son of God, thou diedst for my sins also. It is through thee alone I can be saved. O give me faith, and

strengthen that faith!" Being extremely weak, he was obliged to stop here. A little after he asked, "Is faith enough for salvation?" "Yes, sir," said I," if it be living faith." "Methinks," said he, "it is so already; and it will be more so by and by: let us pray for it." Perceiving he was very weak, to give him some rest I retired into the next room, but he soon sent to call me. I found him praying, and Jesus was all he prayed for. I reminded him of some scriptures treating of faith in Christ, and he was much delighted with them. Indeed he was quite swallowed up by the grace of Jesus, and would hear of nothing but "Jesus Christ, and him crucified." He cried out, "I do not know how it is with me. I never in my life felt such a change. I have power to love Jesus, and to believe in him whom I so long rejected. O my Jesus, how merciful art thou to me!"

About noon I stepped home; but he sent for me directly, so that I could scarce eat my dinner. We were both filled with joy, as partakers of the same grace which is in Jesus Christ; and that in such a manner as if we had been acquainted together for many years. Many officers of the army came to see him continually, to all of whom he talked freely of Jesus, of the grace of the Father in him, and of the power of the Holy Ghost through him; wondering without ceasing at his having found Jesus, and at the happy change by which all things on this side eternity were become indifferent to him.

In the afternoon he desired to partake of the Lord's Supper, which he received with a melting, praising, rejoicing heart. All the rest of the day he continued in the same state of soul. Toward evening he desired that if his end should approach I would come to him, which I promised; but he did not send for me till the next morning. I was told by his valet that he slept well for some hours, and then, awaking, prayed for a considerable time, continually mentioning the name of our Lord, and his precious blood; and that he had desired several of the officers to make his conversion known to his court: (that of the king of Poland.) After some discourse, I asked, "Has your view of Christ and his redemption been neither altered nor obscured since yesterday?" He answered, "Neither altered nor obscured. I have no doubt, not even a remote one. It is just the same with me, as if I had always thus believed and never doubted: so gracious is the Lord Jesus to me a sinner."

This second day he was unwearied in prayer and exercises of faith. Toward evening he sent for me in haste. When I came, I found him dying, and in a kind of delirium; so I could do no more than give him now and then a word of comfort. I prayed afterward for him and those that were present, some of whom were of high birth and rank. I then, by imposition of hands, as usual, gave him a blessing; which being done, he expired immediately. A royal prince who was there (prince Xavier, of Saxony) could not forbear weeping. The rest of the officers bewailed the loss of their general, yet praised God for having shown such mercy toward him.

I wrote an account of it without delay to his mother, and had an immediate answer. She was a lady of seventy-two, of exemplary piety. She praised God for his mercy; adding, that He had now VOL. III.-April, 1832.

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